§ Mr. Norman Lamontasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is having discussions with any parties about providing private facilities within the NHS for non-United Kingdom citizens; and whether she will ensure that no special provision for private medicine for foreigners within the NHS will be made which is not available to citizens of the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. OwenThis matter was covered in the consultative document on private practice in the National Health Service which the Government published last August and also in the proposals published on 15th December, to which my right hon. Friend referred in her statement of that date.—[Vol. 902, c. 971–3.] This explained that the intended Bill would propose to allow NHS authorities 249W to provide specialised services on an occasional basis for individual requirements in specified circumstances and at an appropriate charge, provided that they can satisfy my right hon. Friend that there would be no disadvantage to NHS patients and that such patients, whatever their country of origin, are admitted on the same basis of medical priority as an NHS patient. My right hon. Friend would also have to be satisfied that these specialised services cannot reasonably be provided in the private sector to a satisfactory standard in this country. There would be no subsidy by the NHS. These proposals are the subject of consultation within the medical and dental profession, and my right hon. Friend is guided by them in any discussions.
A copy of the full text is in the Library of the House and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.